Method of and means for making and erecting concrete or other walls for buildings.



W. C. SWIFT.

METHOD or AND MEANS FOR MAKING AND ERECTING CONCRETE OR OTHER WALLS FOR BUILDINGS.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 13. I911.

Patented Apr. 18, 1916.

Eo'gl.

. THE COLUMBIA PLAyqoqRAH-l 50., WASHINGTON, u. c.

UNITED sTA Es PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIS'VCH 0F GOSI-IOGTON, OHIO.

METHO D 0E AND ME'ANSHFOB MAKING AND, ERECTING CONCRETE OR OTHER WALLS FOR BUILDINGS.v

Specification. Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 18, 1916.

Applieatiomfiled April 13-, 1911. Serial 110,620,783.

To all whom itmay concern:

Be it lmownthat- I, WILLIS C. SWIFT, a

citizen of the United. States, residing at Coshocton, county of Coshocton, and State of Ohio, have made a certain new and useful Invention in. Methods of and Means v for- Making and Erecting Concrete or "other:

falls for Buildings, ofvwhich the: following is a specification.

This invention relates to the method of,

and .mea-ns for. making and erecting, concrete or other walls for buildings, and the object.

is to provide a method of producingor erectingwallsor wall sections when made of concrete or other suitable materlal, wherein the wall'is formed orv constructed in hori-.

zontal position at an elevation above the foundation upon which it is to rest, and in.

such relation with reference to the'foundation as to be lowered upon the foundation and into vertical position with expedition, without imposing unnecessary strains and stresses thereon during the setting of the upthe vouter edge of the finished v and formed. wall. so as to raise the same into vertical position, and to set itnpon thefoundation;

Inmy, pending application Serial M0,] 553,613.,j I have set forth, described and;

claimed a method wherein the wall or wall sections" is formed horizontally ona suitable. support or mold frame, placed on the ground adjacent the foundation on which the wall istobe finallyerectedinto-vertical position, and thenraising'the edge of'the finished wall which lies next adjacent to and parallel with the foundation so as-.t0. bring the wall into verticalposition and to set the same inzthat positionupon the:foundation. By this; method the advantage: is; secured of enabling me to finish andsuitalo'lydecorate that surface: of thewallwhichis;

to form the outer surface of the building when the Wallis erected, while the wall is in horizontal position and being formed, such surface in that case being the uppermost surface of the wall, when the wall sections are formed without the foundation lines, where there is usually sufficient space in which to form simultaneously all the wall sections for one story.

The present invention relates to methods of wall construction and erection of this class and-nature, and the particular object in view is to avoid the necessityfor employing hoisting apparatus required for raising the finished walls or wall sections fromtheground,and from horizontal positionlon the ground, into vertical position to be set on the wall, while at the same time retaining the advantageous feature of forming the wall in horizontal position with the surface thereof which is to form the outer surface ofthe erected wall uppermost.

In carrying out my invention I propose to employ a suitable elevated platform or framework, suitably supported at a convenient h'eight above the foundation, and in horizontalposition while the wall is being molded or formed thereon, and I propose to support, said platform at one end upon shoes or rollers arranged to operate on elevated trackways, this end of the platform being the end farthest removed from verti cal: position over the foundation. I also propose to support the platform at the end or edge thereoflying approximately vertically above and parallel with the foundation, by suitable means, which, when the Wall has been completed in its horizontal position, maybe released to permit said edge-0r endof the platform and the formed wall carried therebyto be lowered from its elevated'point, so asto bring the formed wall into vertical position directly over and to seatth'e same in that position upon the foundation, the outer or remote end or edge of the finished wall andits supporting platform progressing or moving along the elevated trackways which support them, and toward-a positionto bring the finishedwall and itssuppo-rtiintoproper relation for the finishedwall to beset upon the foundation. This: constitutesrmy present invention, and byreason-thereofI am enabled to form the wallrin horizontal position, and therefore in the position in which the wall canibe most invention in its broadest scope, and the readily, easily, and conveniently formed, particularly when made of concrete, cement or other suitable plastic material. I am also enabled to suitably decorate the uppermost surface of the wall if formed within the foundation lines While being formed in its horizontal position so as to properly finish the surface thereof to form the outer most surface of the wall when erected upon,

lowering of the finished wall from its horizontal into its vertical position and the setting 'of the same upon the foundation. By this method I am also enabled to avoid imposing unnecessary and undue strains and stresses upon the finished wall as the rear edge'being mounted on rollers the wall is free to twist and thereby automatically maintain the even distribution of weight on each support, while being set upon its foundation. Thisis an important and material matter when it is considered that these walls or wall sections when formed and with the reinforcements which are sometimes embedded therein while they are be ing formed, as well as the concrete or cement ltself forming the wall aggregatea.

very great weight, which tend to cause injury to the wall while being elevated, besides requiring powerful machinery to effect the elevation thereof.

The method involved in my'present invention may be carried out in manyispecifically different ways, and by many specifically different constructions of apparatus. 1

In the accompanying drawing I have shown a simple arrangement of apparatus which is effective for the purpose, but my method which it embodies, as defined in the claims, is not to be limited or restricted to the use of this particular construction and arrangement. 7 c

In the drawing.Figure 1 is a top plan view, somewhat diagrammatic of an' elevated platform or frame, showing a wall section formed thereon, the platform being shown in horizontal position. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the same, showing in dotted lines the wall section lowered into vertical position and set upon its foundation.

.Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the same, also indicating in dotted lines the vertical position of the wall when lowered and .set upon its foundation. 1

Inthe drawing 5, is a wall foundation for a building. Adj acent the wall foundation is erected aframework which may have any suitable construction. In the form indicated in the drawing this framework comprises end parts spaced a distance apart correspondlng to the horizontal dimension of I am also en- 7 the wall or wall section to be formed, and each comprising uprights 6, braces 7, and a top barS, the latter constituting a track. The track members 8, extend in, parallel relation with respectto each other and in transverse direction with reference to the v foundation 5, which is to receive the wall when completed, said tracks terminating at one end approximately over and elevated above the portion ofthe foundation which is to receive the wall. The side members 9, of a frame work, mold or platform, are provided at their outer end with gudgeons 10,

designed to operate on and along the track 1 bars 8, and to support the mold or platform atits outer end when in horizontal position. The side members 9, of the mold frame or platform, are connected together at their ends by means of the end pieces 11, 12. This mold or platform frame is designed to receive and support a suitable flooring upon 1 which the wall, or wall section is to be formed. i

As above indicated thismold frame or platform is supported at its outer ,end by the rollers or shoes 10, resting upon the track members or bars 8. .At its other end the mold frame or platform is supported,

preferably at each corner by means of carried upon a shaft 18, extending between the frames 6, and journaled in bearings 20,

carried thereby. This shaft 18, is equipped With a hand wheel 19, by means of which it may be rotated, so as to impart rotation to the gears 16 and shafts 15. I I

From the foregoing description itwillbe seen that the mold or platform on which the wall or wall sections is formed is a rocking or swinging platform, being held or supported at one end upon the shoes or rollers on an elevated track system, and supported at its other end'by chains or cables adapted to be wound upon shafts, the latter being turned through suitable worm gearing, in order to raise and support the platform in horizontal position for the wall or wall sections to be formed therein or thereon. After the wall section. is formed and completed,

and has sufficientlyset or hardened, and is 3 7 ready to be erected on itsfoundation, the shafts on which the supporting chains or tables are ound are rotated so as to permit' the edge of the wall which lies vertically'above the foundation which is to receive it, to be lowered. As this'edge of the wall and its platform are lowered the otheredge or" end of thep'latform which is supported upon the rollersor shoes, progresses along the track-ways towardthe front ends thereof, thereby bringing the wall from its horizontal into vertical position directly overthe foundation which istoreceive it, and finally depositing the wall'upo-n said foundation.

Ifdesired and in order to lower the wall onto its seat on the foundation, after it has attained vertical position, the tracks S,-may be beveled off at their outer ends, or pockets or depressions formed therein as indicated at 22, into which the rollers or shoes 10 may ride, as the platform and wall approach vertical position, thereby enabling the platform and wall carried thereby to be lowered sufliciently for the wall to be received at its lower edge in the grounder seat formed to receive the same in the foundation.

Itis obvious that the Wall may be retained upon its supporting platform inany suitable or convenientmanner during the time wall from the platform onto the foundation.

From the foregoing description-it will be seen that I provide a simple and-efficient method of forming and erecting concrete or other walls, wherein the'wa-ll is formed in horizontal position with the side thereof,

preferably, uppermost so as to be finished off to form the outermost surface of the wall when erected in vertical position upon its foundation, and wherein the wall, so formed, may be readily shifted or moved by gravity into vertical position and d6." posited in that position upon the foundation, thereby requiring no expenditure of power to accomplish this work, and with out imposing any unnecessary strains or stresses upon the formed wall.

Having now set forth the object and nature of my invention and a method of carrying the same into practical operation, what I claim as new and useful and of my own invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is,

1. The method of constructing and erecting the walls of buildings which consists in forming a wall in a substantially horizontal position, with the edge thereof which is to be received on the wall foundation arranged in line with and vertically above the seat on the foundation which is to receive it, and at an elevation thereover, substantially the same as the height of the wall when erected and then lowering said edge by gravity into position to be received permanently on the foundation, the lowering movement of said wall horizontally to simultaneously move lowering said edge by gravity, said lowerinner-edge causing the outer edge of the formed wall to simultaneously move forwardly into position over the foundation to bring the wall into vertical position.

2. The method of constructing and erecting the walls of buildings which consists in forming the wall in a substantially horizontal position at an elevation above the permanent foundation which is to receive the wall, with the edge-of the wall which is to be received permanently on the. foundation arranged lying parallel with and substantially vertically over the foundation seat, at a height substantially the same as that ofthe wall when erected and then lowering said edge,-the lowering movement of such edge causing the other edge of the, formed wall to progressively move rectilinearly so as to shift the wall from horizontal into vertical position to be received upon the 8 foundation.

8. The method of constructing and erecting the walls of buildings which consists in forming the wall 'in a substantially horizontal position at an elevation above the permanent foundation which is to receive it, substantially. that height of the wall when erected with the edge of the wall which is to be received permanently on the foundation lying substantially parallel with and vertically above the foundation, and

then loweringsaid edge the lowering movement ofsaid edge being efiected by gravity and causing the opposite edge of the formed forward toward position vertically over the foundation, so as to bring the formed wall into vertical position to be received upon the foundation.

4. The method of constructing and erecting the walls of buildings which consists in forming the wall in a substantially horizontal position at an elevation above the permanent foundation which is to receive the same, substantially the height of the wall when erected with the edge of the wall which is to be received permanently on the foundation lying substantially parallel with and vertically above the foundation, then ing movement causing the opposite edge of the formed wall to move horizontally forward'toward position vertically over the foundation, so as to bring the formed wall into vertical position, and then lowering the formed wall vertically to its seat on the foundation.

5. The combination with a permanent wall foundation, of a framework adjacent thereto and extending horizontally above the same, a platform supported at one end upon the framework, suspending devices mounted on the framework for supporting the other end of the platform, said platform forming a mold or frame upon which a wall is y to be constructed, the suspended end of theplatform lying parallel with andverti'cally above the foundation wall, and means for lowering thesuspended end of the platform to deposit the formed wall upon the foundation, the lowering of the suspended end causing the remote end to advance into, posi:

tion vertically over the foundation.

6. The combination with a permanent wall foundation, of a horizontal elevated framework, a platform arranged to be supported at one end movablyupon the elevated move along said horizontal track Ways, sus pension cables for supporting the other endof the platform, the cable suspended end of the platform lying parallel with and vertically over the foundation, and means for releasing the cable suspension of the platform to permit the suspended edge thereof to be lowered and the track supported edge to move horizontally along the trackway, to bring the platform into verti-' cal position over the foundation.

8. The combination, with a permanen wall foundation, of an elevated framework having horizontal track'ways, a platform, rollers carried thereby arranged to rest on. and to move along the trackways, [said rollers forming a support for one end of the platform, cable suspending devices for sup-' porting the other end of the platform, the cable suspended end of the platformlying parallel with and vertically over the foun-v dation Wall at a height approximately correspondingto that of the wall when erected, means for releasing the cable suspended. end of the platform to permit the suspended end thereof to be lowered and the track supported end to move horizontally along the track- Way to bring the platform into vertical position over the foundation, the ends of the trackways which lie over the foundation having seats or depressionstherein, toper mit the platform to be lowered vertically as it reaches vertical position.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of the subscribing witnesses, on this 13th day of February WILLIS C. SWIFT.

Witnesses:

FRANK E. KARE, MABEL PORTER.

Gopiesiof this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing'the G ommissioner of Patent Washington, D. C. a 

